College cheerleading recruiting is unlike any sport. There are cheer programs at each NCAA Division level but it\u2019s not recognized as a championship sport. The NAIA does sanction competitive cheerleading and has a national championship every March. The NJCAA recognized competitive cheerleading as an emerging sport and held the first co-ed national championship in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the traditional opportunities for student-athletes on collegiate squads, the NCAA has recognized two emerging sports related to cheer: acrobatics and tumbling, and stunt. If they become NCAA sports, recruiting guidelines similar to other NCAA sports will apply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
College coaches and student-athletes can initiate the recruiting process at any point during high school. Student-athletes who are successful in their recruiting journey do the work needed to get on a cheer coach\u2019s radar: they thoroughly research colleges, create recruiting videos, attend camps and clinics and attend cheerleading tryouts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This college cheerleading recruiting guide is designed to help student-athletes identify their best college fit and give them the resources they need to connect with the right coach to ultimately become a college cheerleader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The skills needed to compete on a college cheerleading squad completely depend on the program. Because some colleges have competitive squads and others don\u2019t, it\u2019s possible to have two schools in the same division requiring very different skill sets. Top programs who place at national competitions look for student-athletes with elite tumbling, stunt, jump, dance and cheer skills. Less competitive college cheer teams are more flexible and bring on recruits with strong fundamentals who can develop further in college. Requirements also vary for all-girl and coed programs, as the roles for cheerleaders differ on the different types of teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See a complete list of college cheerleading requirements.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n College scholarship opportunities are different at every program. NAIA schools are limited to no more than 12 scholarships for their competitive cheer team. For NCAA schools with cheer programs, the money available will be different at every school. Generally, the more competitive and established the cheerleading program is, the more funding they have for student-athletes. Coaches prioritize scholarships to the cheerleaders with the most advanced skills and the best grades on the team. Because cheerleading isn\u2019t recognized as an NCAA sanctioned sport, the college cheerleading recruiting process looks a little different. Coaches and athletes can interact during any point of the recruiting journey. For example, underclassmen can reach out to college coaches with recruiting video and the coach can provide feedback. Most college coaches discover recruits through recruiting videos like these, as well as through college clinics, cheerleading clubs, cheer combines and tryouts. Cheer clinics are often held on college campuses to prepare prospective student-athletes to try out for the team. But to get on a coach\u2019s radar, it\u2019s crucial for student-athletes to be proactive and contact college coaches and stay aware of the events like camps and tryouts that each school has planned for cheerleaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn how to get recruited for college cheer.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheerleading coaches don\u2019t have time to evaluate every potential recruit in person, so they rely on cheer recruiting videos. Not only do recruiting videos allow student-athletes to secure an initial evaluation, but they also help them establish a relationship with a coach. This is essential to getting on that coach\u2019s radar and then securing a second, in-person evaluation. Many top college programs across the country require that cheerleading recruits submit a video showcasing certain skills before they can try out for the team, outlining exactly what the video needs to include, down to what the cheerleading recruit should wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn how to create a cheerleading recruiting video that will help you get noticed by college coaches.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n College cheerleading camps are a great way for squads to learn new skills, receive personalized training from experienced coaches and take their routine up a notch. There are a variety of college camps available through the\u00a0Universal Cheerleaders Association<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0National Cheerleaders Association<\/a>\u00a0, with the most popular taking place at top college programs across the country. Additionally, cheer clinics run by the schools are crucial to the cheerleading recruiting and tryout process. Cheer clinics at competitive colleges are designed to teach recruits what skills and routines will be performed at that school\u2019s tryouts. Coaches cover the desired qualifications needed in each position and the cheers and stunts unique to that school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discover the best college cheerleading camps and clinics. <\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are more than 250 colleges that offer cheerleading, including NCAA Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA and junior colleges. However, the type of experience greatly varies from program to program, even within the same division. The biggest difference is that some college programs are competitive, while others aren\u2019t. To narrow down the list of target schools, student-athletes need to ask several questions about what they\u2019re looking for in a college cheerleading program, including whether they want to compete, and if they want to be on an all-girls or co-ed squad. It is also smart to ask about the time commitment required and consider if there are other campus activities the student-athlete might want to join that could conflict with cheerleading\u2019s schedule. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n See the list of cheer colleges at every division level.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nEverything you need to know about cheerleading scholarships<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s everything you need to know about cheerleading scholarships.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to get recruited for college cheer <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Create a cheerleading recruiting video that will capture a coach\u2019s attention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
College cheerleading camps and clinics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Complete list of colleges with cheerleading<\/h2>\n\n\n\n